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The Magic of Air Sealing a House

Common Areas in Maryland Homes to be Air Sealed

Attic Exfiltration Points

Air sealing attics in Maryland

What Needs to be Air Sealed?

Plumbing Vent Bypasses (1)
Chimney Bypasses (2)
Basement Rim Joist
Attic Access Hatch (3)
Basement Windows
Interior Wall Top Plate (4)
Electrical Box Bypass (5)
Panned Return Duct (6)
Exterior Wall Top Plate (7)
AC Refrigerant Line Bypass
Sump Pump Pipe Bypass

Want to Learn More?

Common Maryland Homeowner Issues

Get your free Home Efficiency Report
Yes, we want to connect with you.  We can help guide you.  We want to be your partner in making your home more comfortable and efficient.

Complete the form and get your free home efficiency report to learn some really neat building science principles!

Learn about:

  • Home energy myths and misconceptions
  • How your home uses energy
  • Air leakage locations in a typical house
  • Pressure dynamics and how they effect your comfort
  • Basement air leakage
  • Insulation levels and ratings
  • Signs you need more insulation
  • HVAC duct leakage 
  • Crawl space issues and solutions

Air Sealing Benefits in Maryland

Air sealing a house is one of the most important home improvement measures a homeowner can take to increase energy efficiency as well as comfort around the entire home.  In fact, by air sealing your house you can legitimately add years of service to your HVAC machine (because it won't have to work as hard) and you can eliminate paying for projects that won't fix your issues unless air sealing is complete. Air sealing a house is definitely a place a Maryland homeowner should start if they are serious about having a comfortable home.

The best air leakage points to seal are at the top and bottom of your house.  Typical air leak points include light fixtures, walls/floors, ducts, fireplace openings, plumbing penetrations and access points.  Basement air leakage should also be considered equally important to attic air sealing. These air leakage points are in the areas of the home where pressure is greatest causing the holes to do the most “damage”.


Positive Pressure (Exfiltration Through the Ceiling)
Pressure is the greatest at the bottom and top of a house due to the stack effect.  Much like a chimney, the upper floor of the home is where the warm air rises and if allowed, the conditioned air will escape through the holes, cracks and crevices unless they are sealed.  This is known as positive pressure.
 

             Air Sealing Maryland
A positive flow of warm air into the attic creates a pull of cold air at the basement.
 

Negative Pressure (Infiltration from Basement)
When the warm air is flowing into the attic uninterrupted, the basement acts like the base of the fireplace and draws fresh, cold air in from the outside.  This is known as negative pressure.
 

Air Sealing Materials
Each area of the home that has a need for air sealing might require a different technique.  Air sealing materials consist of the following:

  • Caulk
  • Foam
  • Sheathing Tape
  • Sheet Metal
  • 1/2" Polyiso/XPS
  • 3/4" Plywood
  • 1/2" Drywall
     

Professional Assessment
Having your home evaluated by a Building Analyst (BA) is a great way to identify air leakage in your home and find the right solutions to fix the issues.  A Building Analyst is a certified professional with good overall residential building experience.  A certified BA is able to evaluate uncontrolled air leakage into and out of a home and identify heating and cooling problems that lead to high bills and uncomfortable living spaces.  A comprehensive whole-house assessment can determine the root cause of problems and make recommendations, assess ventilation, air flow and overall health and safety.

Is your basement air sealed?

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    Specialized Maryland Contractor

     

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    Our mission is to help Maryland homeowners create a more comfortable home and save energy. We achieve this by applying building science principles and modern air sealing and insulating techniques.


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    MHIC 158968
    8345 Sperry Court
    Laurel, MD 20723
    301.957.6532
    info@hometrustremodeling.com

     

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    Proudly working in BGE & Pepco's Home Performance w/ ENERGY STAR program in Maryland to deliver whole-house energy savings to improve comfort & help protect the environment.
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